The Moment Every 'Gilmore Girls' Fan Fell In Love With Jess Mariano

With the Gilmore Girls revival right around the corner, it's the perfect moment to dig out your old box sets and re-watch every episode from the original run. While plot details of the new episodes are being continually speculated over, some of the biggest secrets surround Rory Gilmore's three most famous ex boyfriends — Logan Huntzberger, Dean Forester, and, of course, Jess Mariano. All Gilmore Girls fans have a favorite boyfriend of Rory's, and, as all three will appear in new episodes of the series, the most ubiquitous question for fans is who will Rory end up with. I am, and have always been, Team Jess, and I know I'm not alone. Which got me thinking. When was the exact moment every Gilmore Girls fan fell in love with Jess Mariano?

There are so many memorable moments that take place between Jess and Rory that it's difficult to choose only one. Plus, as a character who was often so mysterious and brooding, Jess captured our hearts whenever he showed any emotion. But one of my favorites scenes of all time, and the moment that made pretty much everyone fall in love with Jess Mariano, took place in the first episode in which he first appeared: Season 2, Episode 5.

Jess appears earlier in the episode when he arrives at his Uncle Luke's place to stay for a while. Because Stars Hollow is such an amazing place, Sookie prepares a welcome meal for Jess, and it's here that Jess meets Rory for the first time. Even though their meet-cute is so understated, it hints at the things they have in common. For instance, Jess picks up a book in Rory's room, and, when she asks him if he reads, Jess replies, "Not much." This is classic Jess, deadpan and secretive. But, later, we find out that he does read — a lot in fact — and the initial spark we see between the pair is grounded in a shared love of books.

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This scene from Season 2 also shows the ways in which Jess is different from Rory. He suggests they make an escape from the meal, but Rory insists they stay. Jess is always looking for a way out, a place to escape to, or his next adventure, whereas Rory is much more grounded. Although this difference eventually causes conflict between the pair, it's also why they work. Opposites definitely attract, and that's a big part of the reason I fell in love with Jess almost instantly.

We'll have to wait a little longer to find out what Jess's role is in the Gilmore Girls revival, but I'm very much hoping that he ends up with Rory. I fell in love with him the second he started talking about books, and I'm pretty sure Rory, and everyone else, did too.